The federal government did not mandate these warnings on cigarette... Photo-5695205.77341 - StamfordAdvocate

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Seat belts

We used to ride around in cars with no air bags, sure, but the implementation of seat belts wasn't exactly limited by technology, we just didn't want to wear them. Or even worse, we thought they'd hurt us in a crash.

Today, most seat belt regulations are set by the state, but the federal government mandated their use in 1966.

If you live in New Hampshire, however, adults don't have to worry about cops enforcing seat belt laws on adults because they don't. Perhaps the state motto should be changed to "Live Free And/Or Die."

We used to ride around in cars with no air bags, sure, but the implementation of seat belts wasn't exactly limited by technology, we just didn't want to wear them. Or even worse, we thought they'd ... more

Photo: Yale Joel, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

Seat belts We used to ride around in cars with no air bags,... Photo-5695215.77341 - StamfordAdvocate

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Bumper jumping

If you saw a bunch of kids doing this on a New York City street today, you'd call the police.

Bumper jumping

If you saw a bunch of kids doing this on a New York City street today, you'd call the police.

Photo: Anna Kaufman Moon, Getty Images

Bumper jumping If you saw a bunch of kids doing this on a New... Photo-5695207.77341 - StamfordAdvocate

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Occupational safety

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration wasn't formed until 1971 with a mission to "assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women
by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach,
education and assistance."

People used to actually do this. People also used to lose a lot more teeth than they do now.

Playing professional ice hockey without helmets

People used to actually do this. People also used to lose a lot more teeth than they do now.

Photo: B Bennett, Getty Images

Playing professional ice hockey without helmets People used to... Photo-5695220.77341 - StamfordAdvocate

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Asbestos exposure

Scientists knew of the correlation between asbestos and mesothelioma in the 1940s, but that didn't stop us from using it in all sort of consumer and industrial products. At least we left the mining of it up to other people, like the Canadians seen above.

Admittedly, this wasn't a wide-spread problem, but where are this kid's parents?

Smoking and playing with knives while being a 7-year-old

Admittedly, this wasn't a wide-spread problem, but where are this kid's parents?

Photo: Peter Hall, Getty Images

Smoking and playing with knives while being a 7-year-old... Photo-5695203.77341 - StamfordAdvocate

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Throwing kids around and whatnot

A little playing around is one thing,
but this just really seems like a bad idea. It also seems like a bad
idea to let someone take a photo of you doing this, but then again, the
federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act wasn't enacted until
1974.

We all hate bugs but even while we knew that DDT was probably poisoning wildlife and wrecking the environment as early as the 50s, it wasn't fully banned until 1972 in the United ... more

Photo: Orlando, Getty Images

Spraying everything with DDT We all hate bugs but even while we... Photo-5695209.77341 - StamfordAdvocate

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Toy guns in public

These days, doing this is liable to result in an arrest — or worse — getting shot by the cops, but in 1964, it was all good.

Toy guns in public

These days, doing this is liable to result in an arrest — or worse — getting shot by the cops, but in 1964, it was all good.

Photo: Howard Sochurek, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

Toy guns in public These days, doing this is liable to result in... Photo-5695213.77341 - StamfordAdvocate

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Concussions

It's 2014 and the NFL is still battling scientists over the long-term affects of concussions, so do you think that funny looking leather thing on this guy's head is protecting him in any meaningful way? Nope.

It's 2014 and the NFL is still battling scientists over the long-term affects of concussions, so do you think that funny looking leather thing on this guy's head is protecting him in any meaningful ... more

Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts, Getty Images

Concussions It's 2014 and the NFL is still battling... Photo-5695308.77341 - StamfordAdvocate

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Playing on the tracks

Federal Railroad Administration data only goes back to 1975, but since then annual pedestrian fatalities on railroad tracks have decreased by 50%.

Playing on the tracks

Federal Railroad Administration data only goes back to 1975, but since then annual pedestrian fatalities on railroad tracks have decreased by 50%.